Set back with Sterling. I am very sad

[jenluckenbach]

First of all I'd like to admit openly that I jumped the gun and allowed Sterling access to the whole house today for a short while. He had supervision for an hour or so when we left the house for a 2 hour period. When we came home we found a pee spot on the love seat (it was covered with a blanet, so the sofa was not wet, but you can still kinda smell it). SO: since Jim was still locked up, either Sterling did it or another cat that possibly does not like Sterling, did it. We can't know for sure, but there have been no spots during the time he was locked up. So back into the cage for Sterling. I am going to get his urine sample (hopefully by tomorrow) instead of waiting until his appointment on Monday. Maybe the antibiotics aren't working and he needs something else. Or maybe he needs a higher dose of the amitriptylin.
****HEAVY SIGH****:(

[rg_girlca]

Oh Jen i'm so sorry that Sterling has had a setback. How discouraging it must be for you.
But maybe it was too soon to allow him access to the whole house. I know how easy it is to give in.

Please hang in there Jen. We ALL know you CAN do it and the problems you are having right now will be over before you know it.
One day at a time Jen.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Jen, I'm sorry to hear that Sterling is still having pee problems.:( I sure hope that his urinalysis comes back without any problems. Just try to hang in there. I'm sure that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Take care.

[jazzcat]

Looks like you are having a hard time catching a break. Hang in there. Maybe Sterling just needs a little more mellow medicine.

[gini]

Jen, I just wish you good luck and patience through all of this.

What a trooper you are! Bless you.

[Barbara]

Jen, some compassion sighs here too. Oh I had wished so much at least Sterling was ok.

Good luck again -these times too will be over one day.

[sasvermont]

Jen, I know how much cats can affect one's well being, so please do not go bonkers over this kitty. I nearly did, with Ti.

Please try and think of an alternative to keeping Sterling with you. Maybe he would thrive in another environment, maybe being the only kitty. I think trying to work out the problem at home is a great and sound idea, but please always have plan B ready for you too! If this problem does not work out soon, you may want to find that oh so perfect home for sweet Sterling!

I cannot tell you how much more relaxed and happy I am here at Camp Vermont, now that Ti has moved to CT. Robyn, Gabe's Mom would attest to that too, when she gave Gabe to me. Sometimes cats need to move, to improve!

Good luck, and keep up the spirits. Let us know if we can help you.

Love,
SAS

[jenluckenbach]

I have already contacted the shelter that I adopted Jim from to advise them of the situation and make them aware that if this does not work he may need to be returned. (his adoption agreement stated return to US ONLY). Sterling came from the local humane society (kill shelter) so he does not have that option. I will not bring him back there. I would be at a loss if I could not find an organization to take him as I don't think I'd be able to find him a home without some outside help. What could I say about him????? "Well, he pees in my house. Do you want him?"

[sasvermont]

Jen, I found a home for Ti after weeks of going on line to different rescues. You might want to try the same thing. You may be able to find a home, word to mouth..... I personally don't treasure the thought of returning a cat to a kill shelter....or any shelter for that matter. There are folks out there, looking for grown cats.....and maybe he would be better off in a single cat home.....or maybe an indoor/outdoor arrangement. Just a thought. Really. I hope I didn't offend you. You sound so stressed, that I thought an option might be in order.

;)

[jenluckenbach]

No offense taken. Believe me, I have even walked throught the "should I put him to sleep" route in my head. How awful is that?!? I guess my main problem is that I am not good with people. I have few (to no) contacts. He would not classify for a breed rescue. All the area rescues are full (except for the kill shelter). And I'd never make a sales person. I would find it nearly impossible to "sell" someone on the idea of adopting a "flawed" product. (in this case, a known pee-er). It is my greatest weakness. The medicine just HAS TO work!

[lbaker]

Give the meds a chance Jen, but just because he's a "pee-er" in your multi-cat home doesn't mean he would have the same problems in a 1-cat home. Fortunately my 5 have worked their problems out and accept their own positions in the household. (Sometimes I wish the 2 leggers could do as well :rolleyes: ) Keep the faith and don't give up quite yet. You have plenty of hugs and thoughts of good will coming your way from all of us. And what do you mean you're not good with people?? I've met you and felt an immediate tug in the mind & heart... how dare you ;)
Laurie

[emily_the_spoiled]

Jen, I can truely understand what you are going through. I had a similar experience with Emily, even down to the thought of putting her down (after many months of peeing). It turned out that she had an anti-biotic resistent UTI. The standard amoxicillin didn't even begin to touch it, needless to say I continued to have the problem. Finally after two rounds on Baytril we seem to have fixed the problem. But it took a long time and along of pills to make it work. I hope that you don't have to give either cat back, but it might be worthwhile to get a different anti-biotic or even have them culture a urine sample to see what it is sensitive to.

Good luck...

[K & L]

Jen
Have they tried medications to calm him down? I can't remember the name of it, but Catsnclay was having this problem and the medication helped tremendously. It's sort of a tranquilizer I think. You might try PMing Catsnclay and ask her what the name of it is.

You know we had that problem a while back with Olive. She kept peeing in the stove burner:eek: I finally gave her own food & water dish up on a shelf, covered the burners, and gave her a lot of extra attention. So far so good.

Good luck to you! I hope this all works out.

[moosmom]

Jen,

I know how stressed out one can get in multi-cat households. If you've tried everything from ruling out a UTI, tranquilizers, herbal remedies (Nature's Remedy), then it might be best that Sterling be an only cat. Nature is a funny thing, not funny ha-ha, but funny peculiar. I think everyone at one time had the "pts" thought in their mind at one time (I admit to it as well, but never went through it).

It's not Sterling's fault. Maybe the Humane Society wasn't as honest as they should've been. Do you know if the previous owner turned him in for the same problem???

In any case, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and Sterling. If you need to talk, give me a call. I'll PM my number.

(((((((hugs))))))))

[jenluckenbach]

My sweet Sterling was adopted at the aproximate age of 6 months, 3 years ago. The fact that he was OK until now shows me that it is I who pushed him too far with the last adoption or more likly the fosters. I feel bad that I may have caused his discomfort. But, we are still not ruling out other medical problems. I could NOT get him to provide me with a urine sample (for a follow-up urinalysis) today, but he has to give SOON or he'll bust. And they said I could refridgerate it over night for delivery tommorrow morning if (when) he delivers.
Of course everyone loves their animals, but there is something special between Sterling and me. As harsh as it sounds, if Jim is incurable I think I could bear the thought of re-homing him, but not my Sterling! I'll make him wear diapers before I give up on him. (even though, I will admit to thinking about it..........and crying..........today at work, to be exact).

[sasvermont]

Jen, I didn't know that Sterling had been with you for such a long time. I too would be heart broken to have to deal with his problem this late in his schedule. Maybe more meds would do the trick! Good luck. Keep us posted. Maybe an animal behaviorist? We are all feeling your pain! Yikes.

I hope he delivers tonight and you get a good sample for the Vet.

Poor Jen.

SAS

[PayItForward]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
but not my Sterling! I'll make him wear diapers before I give up on him.

We changed our dry cat food recently from Hills standard to Hills Nature Best and this had an effect on little Brambles's rear end.

We have been running around after her for days cleaning her bottom. You can see where she has sat down by the slid marks...yuck.

Thank the deity of your choice, that we mainly have wooden floors and lino, except the stairs carpet which is being chucked anyway.

So I have a small idea what you are going though in part but we know it is tempory which makes the cleanup easier.
(She has been to the vets been given antibiotics and is much better)

I also feel bad about the number of cats I have introduced to our home. The kittens introduction was the most difficult and Milo slept in the living room with the kittens present for the FIRST time last evening.

Treacle is still spending too much time outside to avoid the kittens.

We did try keeping all the cats inside to bond for a couple of days but Milo opened the cat flap the wrong way and let out George, Milly & Treacle and left himself, leaving the kittens on their own. Milo is one clever kitty.

You are not alone Jen.... bet there are plenty of similar problems which don't make it to the PT board. Kirsten having a similar problem with Luna and she only has two cats, so I wouldn't assume that it is a multiply cats problem.

Don't give up hope, once Sterling has been treated medically, you can look at the remaining behavioural problem (if any) and work on that.

Sending prayers for Sterling, Jim, Jen & Charlie (With a side order of wine for Jen)

[jenluckenbach]

bet there are plenty of similar problems which don't make it to the PT board.
I am finding this to be all too true. You would be surprised at the number of people I have talked to who have this problem (and they do not know what to do either).

So anyway, at 9 p.m. last night (25 hours after I put Sterling back in the large cage with the empty litter box) he finaly gave me the all important sample. I labled the bottle and placed it in the 'fridge. It will go to the vet first thing this morning. I actually find myself hoping that they find some remaining medical problem that we can try to treat.

[HayleyRosie]

I am sending prayers for you. If it is a medical condition that is causing Sterling's problem I hope it is nothing serious and can be easily treated. Please keep us posted.

[Cataholic]

Jen,
Keep the faith. I really can't see you giving up Sterling or Jim. So, let's look at some other alternatives. Stay with the retraining, and maybe think of a permanent separation between Sterling and Jim...and, maybe once Jim reaches sexual maturity some of his testosterone will ease, and not make the two so 'male'..to one another?

Good luck.

[slick]

Jen: I'm so so sorry you've been put through this and I can't imagine how stressful this must be for you. We are all praying for you and in a very strange way, it would be good if the vet found something in the urine. Hugs to you Jen and scritches to the furbabies.

[jenluckenbach]

Sterling's urine tested GOOD. so that means trying a higher dose of the amitriptylin and possible cage confining for a MONTH. :eek:

Jim and Sterling don't seem to have a problem with one another, they have been living together now for almost 2 weeks. They NEED each other ;). I think it is Bonnie that bothers Sterling (or possible the kittens, but he has even had the kittens in the room with him without any incidents). Bonnie just adores Sterling and might just be making a pest of herself.

By the way, Jim is about 1 1/2 years old now.

I am afraid more of the medicine will make Sterling "goofy" and groggy, but we will give it a try. I am upping Jim's dose too because I WANT him to be a little groggier than he has been lately. :p

I will confine Sterling longer, but I think I will stick with the single room as I fear if he tries to jump onto those cage shelves in a groggy state, he might hurt himself.

I have Jim out for a trial run right now as we speak. I'll probably be cleaning up pee later today, but I need to know how he is doing.

Keep on praying, we aren't through this yet.

[K & L]

Poor Jen (and Sterling). I sure hope this all ends for you all soon. You've done all the right things so hang in there!

[Kirsten]

Oh no, I'm so sorry! :( How much easier would it have been if it was medical-related and treatable!

Did he start peeing after you have adopted Bonnie?

Kirsten

[jenluckenbach]

I believe that it is possible that fostering Bonnie (which is what I did at first) or the addition of the foster kittens, may have been too much. And I can see where Jim and Bonnie REALLY have issues with each other!!!!!!! On the other hand, Bonnie always liked Sterling, but maybe he does not like the attention.

[Kirsten]

but maybe he does not like the attention.

Yes, that could be... I can see in Luna it's bothering her sometimes having Lily around all the time. I'm a bit afraid her peeing on the sofa was a reaction to this. :( When you have Jim and Sterling in a room seperated from Bonnie, are there also peeing accidents?

Kirsten

[jenluckenbach]

No, there haven't been any, either in the room that Jim and Sterling have shared with Foster Annie, nor in the rest of the house with the other 12 plus 2 of the foster kittens.
Now, does that mean that it IS behavioral? (it looks that way). But on the other hand, let's just think for a minute that Sterling has a medical problem (I am sure Jim's is behavioral and the medicine will help him). While Sterling is in a single room he has many litter boxes to choose from within a close walking distance (the 2 regular ones that are always in that room and one in each of the 2 cages that are still set up but the cage doors are open now). On the other hand, when I allowed Sterling out in the whole house the other day, he had much more space to cover. Even though there are litter boxes in every room, he might still have to travel farther to one than he would have had to if he were in that single room. That is why I think there could still be an underlying medical problem that we have yet to find.

[Kirsten]

I hope it's that - and something treatable!

It's not the first time I'm saying this, I know - but I wish they could talk and tell us what's wrong!

Kirsten

[jenluckenbach]

I hate to say this, but I am begining to think it IS behavioral. But at the vet visit tomorrow, I will ask about the possibility of other medical conditions that we might test for in Sterling.
As for the other jailbird, I am possitive it is behavioral but the medicine for stress does not seem to be working. I will ask about that too tomorrow.
I guess I have to get used to the idea of cleaning up pee spots. :(

[HayleyRosie]

Jen, I am so sorry to hear that you have a behavioural problem and then I am also happy that it is not medical. I wish you every success in finding a solution to this. Keep us posted.

[jenluckenbach]

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33879